Arch. Biol. Sci., Belgrade, 62 (1), 185-189, 2010 DOI:10.

2298/ABS1001185K

COMPARATIVE IN VITRO ANTHELMINTIC ACTIVITY OF THREE PLANTS

FROM THE AMARANTHACEAE FAMILY

ASHOK KUMAR, B.S1*, LAKSHMAN, K2., JAYAVEERA, K.N3., NANDEESH, R4., MANOJ, B1. and
RANGANAYAKULU, D5.
1
Department of Pharmacognosy, Sri K.V.College of Pharmacy, 562101 Chickballapur, Karnataka (India).
2
Department of Pharmacognosy, PES College of Pharmacy, 560002 Bangalore, Karnataka, (India).
3
Department of Chemistry, Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University of College of Engineering,
515005 Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh (India).
4
Department of Pharmacognosy, Sree Siddhaganga College of Pharmacy, 561202 Tumkur, Karnataka (India).
5
Department of Pharmacology, Sri Padmavathi School of Pharmacy,
501517 Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka (India).

Abstract – The three plants presented in this study are Amaranthus spinosus, Amaranthus caudatus and Amaranthus
viridis L. They belong to the Amaranthaceae family and are traditionally used as vermicides. Our aim was to investigate
the anthelmintic activity of the three plants using earthworms (Pheretima posthuma). Methanol extracts of the three
plants at different concentrations (10, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100 mg/ml) showed dose-dependent vermicidal activities. At
concentrations of 80 and 100 mg/ml all three plant extracts caused paralysis (8.18, 5, 12.16, 5.75, 10.2, 7.8 min) and
death (14.65, 9.12, 18.6, 8.5, 18.6, 12.7 min), respectively. Piperazine was used as a reference standard at a concentration
of 10 mg/ml. Our study found that the three plants possess potent anthelmintic activity when compared to Piperazine.

Keywords: Amaranthus spinosus, Amaranthus caudatus, Amaranthus viridis, anthelmintic activity, Piperazine.

UDC 582.929:615.321.33

INTRODUCTION Taiwo, 2005; Khare, 2007; Anonymous, 1988; Agra

The World Health Organization estimates that a
staggering two billion people harbor parasitic worm
infections. Parasitic worms also infect livestock and
crops, affecting food production with a resultant
economic impact. Despite this prevalence of parasitic
infections, the research on the anthelmintic drug is
sparse. According to the WHO, only a few drugs are
used in treatment of helminthes in humans.
Anthelmintics from natural sources could play a key
role in the treatment of these parasite infections. In
view of this, attempts have been made to study the
anthelmintic activity of traditional medicinal plants.
For our studies, we used Amaranthus spinosus,
Amaranthus caudatus and Amaranthus viridis L
that belong to the Amaranthaceae family and are
traditionally used as vermifuge drugs (Fajimi and
et al., 2007.
A. spinosus Linn. (Amaranthaceae), commonly
known as “Mullatotakura” in Telugu, is used as a
laxative (Vaidyaratanam PS Varier’s. 1996; William
D’ymock. 1976., The roots are regarded as a highly
specific colic remedy by Hindu physicians (Siva-
rajan, 1994) and in Madagascar they are used as a
laxative (Kirtikar and Basu, 1987). The plant is also
used traditionally applied as a diuretic, antidiabetic,
antipyretic, anti-snake venom, antileprotic and
anti-gonorrheal drug (Vaidyaratanam PS Varier’s.
1996; Kirtikar and Basu, 1987). Some tribes in India
use Amaranthus spinosus to induce abortion (Grub-
ben and Denton, 2004). The A. spinosus is noted for
its anti-inflammatory properties (Olumayokun et
al., 2004), effect on hematology (Olufemi et al.,
2003), immunomodulatory activity (Tatiya et al.,

185
186 A. KUMAR ET AL.
2007), anti malarial activity (Hilou et al., 2006),
antiandrogenic activity (Murgan et al., 1993),
effects on biochemical changes in the epididymis
(Murgan et al., 1993), anti-diabetic, anti-hyper-
lipidemic and spermatogenic activity (Sanga-
meswaran and Jayakar, 2008).
Amaranthus caudatus Linn., (Amaranthaceae)
is commonly known as “Peddathotakura” in
Telugu. A. caudatus is traditionally used to cure
kidney stones, leprosy, fever, piles (Vanila et al.,
2008), as a “blood purifier”, diuretic and astringent,
(Khare, 2007). In Southeastern Ethiopia the seeds of
A. caudatus are used in amoebiasis, jaundice and
kidney diseases (Haile et al., 2008; Sushil et al.,
2003). In India A. caudatus is traditionally used to
cure kidney stones, leprosy, fever, piles (Vanila et
al., 2008). In Senegal the roots are boiled with
honey and used as a laxative for infants. The leaf
has also been used as tea for relieving pulmonary
conditions (Anonymous, 1988). In South Africa the
leaf is used as an abortifacient (Watt, 1962; Yusuf et
al., 1994). Isolated antimicrobial peptides
(Broekaert et al., 1992), triterpenoid saponins
(Rastrelli et al., 1998), and amaranthin (Rinderle et
al., 1989) from A. caudatus seeds showed a
cholesterol lowering effect and an in vitro
antioxidant effect and inhibition of alpha amylase
(Plate and Areas, 2007; Filomena et al., 2005). The
amaranth seed oil is a nutracetical resource from
Ecuadorian flora (Bruni et al., 2001).
Amaranthus viridis L. (Amaranthaceae) is
commonly called “Chilaka Thota-Kura” in Telugu.
In Nepal, an infusion of powdered seeds of A.
viridis is used for stomach problems and in
pregnant women to alleviate labor pains (Mark,
2003). The Negritos of the Philippines apply the
bruised leaves directly to eczema, psoriasis and
rashes (Eduardo and Quisumbing, 1951). Other
traditional uses are based on their apparent
antipyretic, diuretic, antirheumatic, antiulcer,
analgesic, antiemetic, laxative, appetite stimulatory,
antileprotic properties and for treating respiratory
problems, eye ailments and asthma (Kirithikar and
Basu, 1986; Hassan Sher and Khan, 2006; Quershi
et al., 2008; Muhammad Ejaz Ul Islam Dar, 2003;
Muhammad, 2000; Muhammad and Amusa, 2005)
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Collection of Plant Material and Extraction
Fresh A. spinosus, A. caudatus, and A. viridis plants
were collected from Chickballapur and were
authenticated by Dr. Rajan from the Department of
Botany, Government Arts College, Ootcamund,
Tamilnadu. A voucher specimen (SKVCP 11, 12
and 13) was deposited in the college herbarium.
The whole plant was shade-dried and coarsely
powdered. The coarse powder was extracted with
methanol using the soxhlet apparatus. The extract
was concentrated to dryness in vacuum.
Phytochemical screening
The methanol extracts of three plants were screened
for the presence of various phytoconstituents such
as steroids, alkaloids, terpenoids, glycosides, flavo-
noids, phenolic compounds, and carbohydrates
(Kokate, 1986).
Animals
Indian adult earthworms (Pheretima posthuma)
were used to study anthelmintic activity. The earth-
worms were collected from moist soil and washed
with normal saline to remove all fecal matter.
Earthworms 3-5 cm in length and 0.1-0.2 cm in
width were used for all experimental protocol.
Drugs and Chemicals
Piperazine citrate (Glaxo Smithkline), methanol
(Karnataka chemicals) was used during experimen-
tal protocol.
Anthelmintic Activity
The anthelmintic assay was carried out as per the
method of Ajaiyeoba et al. (2001) with minor
modifications. The assay was performed on the adult
Indian earthworm Pheretima posthuma due to its
 COMPARATIVE IN VITRO ANTHELMINTIC ACTIVITY OF THREE PLANTS FROM THE FAMILY AMARANTHACEAE
anatomical and physiological resemblance to the
human intestinal roundworm parasite (Vidyarthi,
1967; Chatterjee, 1967). Due to their ready availability,
earthworms have been used widely for the initial
evaluation of anthelmintic compounds in vitro
(Sollmann, 1918; Jain et al., 1972; Dash et al., 2002).
The earthworms were divided into different
groups, each group containing six worms. Fifty ml
formulations containing four different concentra-
tions of methanolic extracts of A. spinosus, A.
caudatus and A. viridis (10, 20, 50, 80 and 100
mg/ml in distilled water) were prepared. The time
of paralysis was noted when no movement of any
sort could be observed except when the worms were
shaken vigorously. The times of death of the worms
were recorded after ascertaining that worms neither
moved when shaken vigorously or when dipped in
warm water (50°C). Piperazine citrate (10mg/ml)
was used as reference standard while water served
as a control.
Figure 1. In vitro anthelmintic activity of three plants belonging to family Amaranthaceae
187
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
By preliminary phytochemical screening it was
found that all the three plants’ extracts contain
flavonoids, glycosides, steroids, alkaloids, phenolic
compounds, carbohydrates, proteins and tannins.
The earthworm selected for the antihelmintic
activity was most sensitive to the methanol extract
of A. spinosus as can be seen in Fig. 1. The graph
revealed dose-dependent paralysis ranging from
loss of motility to loss of response to external
stimuli, which eventually progressed to death. At
60, 80 and 100 mg/ml concentrations paralysis was
observed respectively at 17.6, 8.18 and 5 min and
death at 24.03, 14.65 and 9.12 min post-exposure.
The methanol extracts of A. caudatus and
A.viridis also exhibited dose-dependent anthelmin-
tic activities that caused paralysis at 19.21, 14.33
min (at 60 mg/ml); 12.16, 10.2 min (at 80 mg/ml);
188 A. KUMAR ET AL.
and 5.75, 7.8 min (at 100 mg/ml), and death at 27.7,
26.6 min (at 60 mg/ml); 18.6, 18.6 min (80 mg/ml);
and 8.5, 12.7 min (100 mg/ml) post-treatment (Fig.
1). The earthworms were more sensitive to the
extracts of A. spinosus, A. caudatus, and A.viridis at
60, 80 and 100 mg/ml concentrations as compared
to the reference drug piperazine citrate (10 mg/ml).
All the three plants’ methanol extracts were more
effective in causing the death of the worms as well
as promoting paralysis.
Most worm expellers like piperazine citrate
cause paralysis of the worms so that they are
expelled in the feces. The methanol extracts of the
three plants not only demonstrated this property
but also killed the worms.
The anthelmintic activity of the methanol
extracts of A. spinosus, A. caudatus and A.
viridis may be due to the presence of
polyphenolic compounds (Bate-Smith, 1962).
The wormicidal activity of the methanol extract
as described herein against earthworms suggests
that it could be effective against parasitic
infections of humans.
Acknowledgement – The authors are grateful to Sri
K.V.Naveen Kiran, Chairman, Sri K.V.College of
Pharmacy, Chickballapur (India) for providing the
facilities to perform this work.
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